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Know your rights – Rail Travel

Summary: European rail passengers rights legislation introduced in October 2007 ensures that passengers with vision impairments can travel by air in the same way as all other passengers.

Rail Travel

The European rail passenger rights legislation ensures that passengers with reduced mobility can travel in a way that is comparable to other citizens. Rail companies have to establish non-discriminatory rules for the transport of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility.

Upon request, rail companies, ticket vendors and tour operators are also obliged to inform people with disabilities and people with reduced mobility about the accessibility of rail transport services and facilities on board.

Rail companies should also provide persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility with assistance with making a reservation, assistance on board, as well as during boarding and disembarking from a train, all free of charge. Assistance is provided on condition that the rail company, the station manager, the ticket vendor or the tour operator from whom the ticket was purchased is notified of the person’s need for such assistance at least 48 hours before the assistance is required.

Irish Rail (IarnródÉireann)

Irish Rail is responsible for operating rail services in Ireland. It operates mainline passenger rail services nationwide as well as commuter rail services, including the DART service in Dublin and Arrow services in Cork and Galway and between Dublin and Kildare.

Luas

Luas is a light rail tram system operating in Dublin. This tram system connects suburban parts of Dublin city centre using two tramlines .

These are:

The Green Line: connecting Sandyford to St Stephen’s Green in the city centre.

The Red Line: connecting Tallaght via the city centre to the O2 concert arena.

Making a Complaint

If you consider that your rights as an rail passenger have not been respected, you should first bring the matter to the attention of Irish Rail. If you are unsatisfied with their response, you may lodge a complaint with the National Transport Authority who is the national enforcement body for the regulation.